Before making a homemade flag to display, stomp on, and overall use to upset a large group at a protest rally, it is really important to check and see what the symbols on the flag represent.

Some of the members of the College Republicans are acting dumbfounded as they find themselves in hot water after an Oct. 17 stunt they pulled on campus during a rally to support the troops in Iraq and condemn terrorism. Well, they had a few flags. One represented Hezbollah, the other, Hamas, both of which are Islam-based political parties in the Middle East. The flags contained symbols that had the Arabic symbol for “Allah” or God, and were trampled on by members of the College Republicans. On a college campus, nothing is better than the ability to have freedom of speech, but if it crosses a line and insults another group, then it becomes inappropriate and disrespectful.

Leigh Wolf, the press information officer for the College Republicans, said they did not stomp on the flags because of Islam, but because of Hezbollah and Hamas, according to the Golden Gate [X]press. No one noticed the symbols and knew what they represented when they made their way on to the flag? It seems like a hard story to buy.

Members of the General Union of Palestinian Students were upset because they felt that their religion was being attacked. Then, SF State’s Muslim Student Association filed a formal complaint against the College Republicans. Their acts were outlandish and unnecessary to help prove the point they were trying to make that day, and instead of communicating their thoughts on a subject, they successfully managed to offend people on campus. It does not matter if the purpose was not to offend anyone. The fact of the matter is that it did offend people enough to file a complaint and stir up emotions.

Associated Students Inc. recently announced that they deemed the College Republicans accountable for their actions, according to the Golden Gate [X]press, Also, there were complaints filed by students and other student organizations, and the Office of Student Programs and Leadership Development is going to conduct its own investigation and panel to decide whether the College Republicans violated campus rules (www.xpress.sfsu.edu). Apparently, College Republicans will take legal action if the university decides to cut off their funding.

There is such a thing as free speech and it does exist on this campus. Yes, the College Republicans have their right to free speech, but it is not free speech if they are using it to blatantly go after someone else’s beliefs.

The College Republicans took their actions too far, and maybe restricting some of their privileges will help them realize the severity of their stunt. Freedom of speech in the constitution is not there to allow disrespect. It is there to allow the flow of ideas and words in a productive manner, and to improve communication. More importantly, nowhere does it state that it’s OK to be disrespectful. Try using that in court.